Previous studies have shown that methanol extract and its butanol fraction of Carthamus tinctorius L. Semen have the hepatoprotective effect on the CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity. The hepatoprotective effect of the subfractions of butanol fraction has been evaluated by analyzing oxygen free radical scavenging enzyme activities and histopathological examinations. In BS-5 subfraction treated group, the activity of superoxide dismutase has been significantly increased as compared with that of CCl₄ treated rats. Antioxidant activity has been evaluated by the examination of the scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical. BS-5 subfraction has shown strong antioxidant activities. The histopathological examination showed that the treatment of BS-5 subfraction has relieved the ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes which had been generated by CCl₄. It appears that the protective effect of BS-5 subfraction would be mediated of the attenuation of lipid peroxidation by acting as a free radical scavenger, which were based on the increase of superoxide dismutase activity.

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